Around the Mouse: Walt Disney World News May 15, 2017

May 15, 2017

Around the Mouse

Walt Disney World Theme Parks

Magic Kingdom Park

Happily Ever After Now Showing Nightly: Magic Kingdom’s new nightly spectacular made its grand debut on May 12. The new show includes with fireworks, pyrotechnics and original animation, plus a heart-tugging original score. With stateof-the-art projection mapping technology, more Disney characters than ever before are featured in the show, including moments from “Moana,” “Brave,” “Big Hero 6,” “Zootopia,” “The Princess & The Frog,” “Aladdin” and many others.

Epcot

Reminder! Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival Continues: The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is an annual spring event taking place from March 1 to May 29, 2017 at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The festival features an irresistible array of new gardens and character topiaries, popular entertainers and tasty food and drink offerings. Fresh, farm-market food and beverage flavors will debut at the new Northern Bloom and The Berry Basket Outdoor Kitchens that will join 13 returning Outdoor Kitchens. The new generation of princess topiaries (Snow White, Anna and Elsa – the first to be designed and created with topiary facial features) will welcome a brand-new Belle topiary. This year’s Epcot front-entrance topiary garden, “Welcome Spring Fun, Food and Flowers,” inspired by a vintage Walt Disney short film will spring to life with a floral-festooned maypole featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Daisy and Pluto. The popular Garden Rocks concert takes place four days each week, with three concerts each Friday through Monday presenting pop musicians that span multiple genres over five decades. Redesigned interactive play gardens will include the new “Cars”-themed Road to Florida 500 garden introducing the new “Cruz” character topiary from the June 2017 release of Disney•Pixar’s “Cars 3.” Music Garden Melodies play area will return with a new garden design, musical note topiary elements and climbing nets. The Festival Center will showcase an entertaining mix of gardening seminars and DIY workshops.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

New! Meet “Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2” characters at Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream: You can now meet StarLord and Groot at Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream from the new film, “Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol 2.” This meet and greet offering will be available through the 2017 holiday season.

New! Groot Sipper Available for Limited Time: In celebration of the release of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” select Disney’s Hollywood Studios popcorn carts are now selling Groot Sipper Cups while supplies last. The souvenir cup is $12.75 and is served with a fountain beverage. Groot Sippers are available for purchase at Hollywood Popcorn, Animation Popcorn and Great Movie Ride Popcorn.

New! Cars 3 Sneak Peek at One Man’s Dream: Beginning May 26, a sneak peek of Disney·Pixar’s “Cars 3” is being presented inside One Man’s Dream. Guests can view this sneak preview as well as a display of artwork and character maquettes used in the production through June 25. Disney·Pixar’s “Cars 3” cruises into theaters in 3D on June 16.

(Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

New! Change to Tarzan Meeting Location: Beginning Wednesday, May 10, Tarzan will be back at his former character greeting location behind the Tree of Life.

New! Exotic Magic Shots Now Available: Check out the special shots currently available from Disney PhotoPass Service at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and don’t forget that with Memory Maker, you’ll get digital downloads of all your Disney PhotoPass vacation photos and videos for one price! You can receive the following Magic Shots all around the park. Just ask any PhotoPass photographer, aside from those at Character Experience locations, to set up the photo.

(Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog)

Disney Springs

New! Cirque du Soleil Temporarily Dark: There will be no performances of La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil May 14-28. The box office will remain open for future ticket sales 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

New! Temporary Monorail Route Changes: Due to work on the monorail, modified routes will be in effect May 16-17, May 23-24 and May 30, 2017 from 11:30 am–6:00 pm. During these specific times, the Resort Monorail will travel between Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Magic Kingdom Park. It will not travel to the Contemporary. The Express Monorail will make an additional stop at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, as it travels between the Transportation and Ticket Center and Magic Kingdom Park. Resort Guests traveling to Epcot have two options: they can either board a train to the Transportation and Ticket Center and transfer to the Epcot line or they can take a Disney bus directly from their resorts during this time. The monorail operating hours will not be affected.

New! Red River Hogs Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: Two red river hog piglets were born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge! Chloe, a first-time mom, gave birth to two adorable males. They are more active than others cared for at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. They like to wrestle and climb on their dad when he’s relaxing in the yard. The piglets will remain backstage until they grow a bit larger. Because the Sense of Africa program at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge includes a stop at the red river hogs’ home, a small number of guests have been able to see the piglets up close. They are adorable!

(PhotoCourtesy of Disney Parks Blog)

Update! Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Construction: The following venues will be unavailable at the resort Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort due to construction and refurbishments in progress: Old Port Royale Food Court, Shutters at Old Port Royale, Banana Cabana Pool Bar and Calypso Trading Post. During the refurbishment work, a variety of dining options will be available at the resort. This includes all-you-care-to-eat buffet offerings for breakfast and dinner. A selection of grab-and-go meals will be available for purchase in three new island markets located in the Aruba, Jamaica and Martinique regions of the resort. Additional a la carte offerings will be available at mobile food vending locations. In-room dining remains available, including pizza, sandwiches and pasta. The feature pool—Fuentes del Morro Pool—and leisure pools will all remain available. Recreation activities and entertainment will also still be available.

Walt Disney World Resort – Merchandise

Love-Themed Disney Pin Celebration Coming to Epcot this August: If you love collecting or trading pins at Disney Parks, mark your calendar for August 25-26, 2017 when the annual Disney Pin Celebration returns to World ShowPlace at Epcot. This year’s event theme is “Love is an Adventure.” Guests attending this ticketed event will have the first opportunity to purchase limited edition pins and products. Disney Parks Blog author Steven Miller shared some of his favorite designs including a two-pin set with Rapunzel and Flynn Rider from Disney’s “Tangled,” or a pin with Hiro and Baymax from Disney’s “Big Hero 6.” According to Miller, Guests will also find several “mini-jumbo” pins inspired by classic attractions or characters found at Disney Parks; and Attendees should also look for this incredible six-pin set with Carl and Ellie from Disney-Pixar’s “Up,” and the Disney Villain-inspired “Love is Vain” set containing six 3D sculpted pins.

(Photo’s Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog)

Closures and Refurbishments

Click here to view the latest renovations and closures at Walt Disney World Resort